Xander is in renal failure...currently he's eating Royal Canin renal diet...canned, and he's eating well. However...I'm interested in treats that I can give him...because he's begging for some. Since he has an appetite and is feeling good...I'd like to reward him. I know that they have to be low protein...so no meat.

He's a picky eater, and he won't eat most fruits and veggies. I found ONE recipe online for low protein treats.

Thoughts, ideas?

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

pitbullmamaliz wrote:Meat is actually only like 16% protein, just an FYI.

He won't do green beans or carrots, I assume?

The internal specialist specifically said NO MEAT...so I'm going by what she says right now...as she's the expert. I've joined a K9 kidney group on yahoo groups, but I figured I'd ask here too.

He's supposed to get low protein, but it's also supposed to be balanced with other things he needs...so that's why the no meat, I assume. He can have cottage cheese, tofu, egg whites for example. It's got to pretty strict, as his heart disease comes into play also.

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

What do his kidney values look like? What medications did they send home?

Although low protein is important, he didn't blow his kidneys out overnight [unless they think he has some kind of cancer in his kidneys] a piece of meat here and there is not going to totally blow out the rest of his kidneys. In cats especially we have people who feed them whatever they will eat, dogs usually aren't as picky but in kidney failure they do get finicky and it's mostly just important that they eat. The biggest thing really is keeping him hydrated which can be a balancing act if he has a heart issue.

You could take canned kidney diet and slice it into rounds and bake it to make "cookies".

Dogs don't seem to do as well in kidney failure as cats do. However, we are currently treating a pomeranian with kidney failure and we've been treating her for the past 2 years. Her owners feed her whatever she will eat, she does get an appetite stimulant once in a while, but they are very diligent about her fluids and her values have been holding steady.

I would also like to add, with most prognosis most vets will give you the 6month number. I know you trust the specialist, but they seriously slap 6mos on EVERYTHING, it's a guideline. Like it was mentioned Xander doesn't have an expiration date and he very well may surpass the 6month prognosis because it's really just a estimation.

Look on the dog aware website they have some great information on this topic. Also, check with your vet to see the supplement epakitin will be of any help.

Patch O' Pits Pursuit-O-Perfection

Run Hard at the Rainbow Bridge My Angel Sock-M! I Love You Baby Girl! Now that your Mom Starlit is up there too, please help her learn the ropes, love and keep her company until I can see you both again. Starlit I love you!http://i14.tinypic.com/2a8q345.jpg

DR Harvey Power Patty's which are freeze dried tripe and great treats and on this page as being recommended. Check them out with your vet.

Patcheeno's kidney values are high normal so I'm looking into things too.

Patch O' Pits Pursuit-O-Perfection

Run Hard at the Rainbow Bridge My Angel Sock-M! I Love You Baby Girl! Now that your Mom Starlit is up there too, please help her learn the ropes, love and keep her company until I can see you both again. Starlit I love you!http://i14.tinypic.com/2a8q345.jpg

Harley LOVES his mirtazapine! It has keep him alive and eating for a year now. How about Sucralfate to calm his stomach? Worked great on Harl. He also had liquid barium 2x a day to coat his belly. Both were inexpensive; that is why I mention them.

iluvk9 wrote:Harley LOVES his mirtazapine! It has keep him alive and eating for a year now. How about Sucralfate to calm his stomach? Worked great on Harl. He also had liquid barium 2x a day to coat his belly. Both were inexpensive; that is why I mention them.

I'll write those down to ask the vet. I'm hoping that we can switch back to my regular vet soon anyway...geez...$70 for the specialist to listen to his heart and say "he looks good!" yesterday.

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

good news from the vet! Xanderoo's test results are back: creatinine levels are down to 3.9, which is an improvement, phosphorus levels are down to 6.1/high normal. He gets to come off some meds, fluids every other day. However, he has a low-growth e-coli infection...so he'll be going on antibiotics.

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

the anemia was better at the hospital, after staying over the weekend before. This was his test after being home. I'm headed to MY vet tomorrow, to pick up the new meds, and I'm going to ask them for a copy of the tests.

I really, really, really don't like this specialist, or the entire clinic...so once things are settled down (like now), I'm going to do a sit down with MY vet and get the answers I'm looking for.

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

TheRedQueen wrote:the anemia was better at the hospital, after staying over the weekend before. This was his test after being home. I'm headed to MY vet tomorrow, to pick up the new meds, and I'm going to ask them for a copy of the tests.

I really, really, really don't like this specialist, or the entire clinic...so once things are settled down (like now), I'm going to do a sit down with MY vet and get the answers I'm looking for.

Gah. You're killing me!

Do you know how high his creatinine was before??

3.9 isn't that scary, especially if you can just maintain that number or potentially lower it. I'm glad his numbers are better. The anemia thing kind of scared me because once their red cell count drops with kidney failure - it's pretty much all down hill from there.

Um...I don't remember the numbers before...because MEN can't write anything down when they talk on the phone. I've been busy in a haze of medications, pet-sitting visits and such to ask for a copy. I'm usually much better than this...

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

Run Hard at the Rainbow Bridge My Angel Sock-M! I Love You Baby Girl! Now that your Mom Starlit is up there too, please help her learn the ropes, love and keep her company until I can see you both again. Starlit I love you!http://i14.tinypic.com/2a8q345.jpg